by Greg Poland
Things are cooling off and it’s a great time to start fishing the gulf side of the keys, if you have some secret numbers to spots in the gulf you always wanted to investigate, this is the time to do it. If you don’t have a list of secret spots take a look at www.myfwc.com and you just might find a few, or talk to the guys at your local bait shop.
I like to load the boat with lots of live baits and a few boxes of frozen chum for gulf trips, head out to your GPS coordinates and remember to approach the spot slowly incase anything is swimming on the surface. Lots of times there will be a cobia or a permit on the surface and it’s always fun to sight cast at them. I always pick my weather days because it’s usually a long run and if the weather is not cooperating then my backup plan is to change gears and fish for spanish mackerel. Not to take anything away from the macks, they are absolutely one of my favorite fish and I wait all summer long for them to come back to the area. If you want action the spanish mackerel will give it to you weather fishing a light spinning outfit or a popper on a fly rod they are sure to bring a smile to your face.
On my Contender bay boat I had the guys install an electric plug for kite fishing and when the mackerel bite is on and there is enough wind for the kite to go up I always put a blue runner back in the chum slick and have come up with some great catches over the years.
Capt. Greg Poland
305.393.3327 | gregpoland.com
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